View source for Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine



{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image = Buffy_Season_9_promotional_artwork.jpg
|imagesize = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption = Promotional artwork for Season 9 featuring both core series, ''Buffy'' and ''Angel & Faith''. Art by [[Jo Chen]].
|schedule = Monthly
|limited = y
|genre = [[Horror comics|Horror]]<ref>{{cite web|title=BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON NINE VOL. 3 GUARDED TPB|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-869/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-Nine-vol-3-Guarded-TPB|website=Dark Horse Comics}}</ref>
|publisher = [[Dark Horse Comics]]
|date = 
|startmo = August
|startyr = 2011
|endmo = September
|endyr = 2013
|issues = 25 (core series)<br />5 (each miniseries)
|main_char_team = Scooby Gang
|writers = '''''Buffy'':'''<br />[[Joss Whedon]]<br />[[Andrew Chambliss]]<br />[[Scott Allie]]<br />[[Jane Espenson]]<br />[[Drew Z. Greenberg]]<br />'''''Angel & Faith'':'''<br />[[Christos Gage]]<br />'''''Spike: A Dark Place'':'''<br />[[Victor Gischler]]<br />'''''Willow: Wonderland'':'''<br />[[Jeff Parker (comics)|Jeff Parker]]<br />[[Christos Gage]]
|artists = 
|pencillers = '''''Buffy'':'''<br />[[Georges Jeanty]]<br />[[Karl Moline]]<br />Cliff Richards<br />[[Ben Dewey]]<br />'''''Angel & Faith'':'''<br />[[Rebekah Isaacs]]<br />[[Phil Noto]]<br />[[Chris Samnee]]<br />[[Lee Garbett]]<br />'''''Spike: A Dark Place'':'''<br />[[Paul Lee (comics)|Paul Lee]]<br />'''''Willow: Wonderland'':'''<br />[[Brian Ching]]
|inkers = 
|letterers = 
|colorists = 
|editors = 
|creative_team_month = 
|creative_team_year = 
|creators = [[Joss Whedon]]
|TPB = Freefall
|ISBN = 978-1-59582-922-1
|TPB1 = On Your Own
|ISBN1 = 978-1-59582-990-0
|TPB2 = Guarded
|ISBN2 = 978-1-61655-099-8
|TPB3 = Welcome to the Team
|ISBN3 = 978-1-61655-166-7
|TPB4 = The Core
|ISBN4 = 978-1-61655-254-1
|TPB5 = Live Through This
|ISBN5 = 978-1-59582-887-3
|TPB6 = Daddy Issues
|ISBN6 = 978-1-59582-960-3
|TPB7 = Family Reunion
|ISBN7 = 978-1-61655-079-0
|TPB8 = Death and Consequences
|ISBN8 = 978-1-61655-165-0
|TPB9 = What You Want, Not What You Need
|ISBN9 = 978-1-61655-253-4
|TPB10 = Spike: A Dark Place
|ISBN10 = 978-1-61655-109-4
|TPB11 = Willow: Wonderland
|ISBN11 = 978-1-61655-145-2
|subcat = Dark Horse Comics
|altcat = 
|sort = Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine
|addpubcat1 = Comics based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
|noimage = yes
}}
'''''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine''''' is a comic book series published by [[Dark Horse Comics]] from 2011 to 2013. It is the sequel to the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight|Season Eight]]'' comic book series, a [[Buffyverse canon|canonical]] continuation of the television series ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''.<ref name=cbrrobot6>{{cite web|first=Kevin|last=Melrose|url=http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2009/09/joss-whedon-confirms-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-nine/|title=Joss Whedon confirms Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine|work=Robot6|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=September 24, 2009|access-date=March 25, 2010|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182653/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2009/09/joss-whedon-confirms-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-nine/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''Season Nine'' brand also incorporates a new ''Buffy'' spin-off series, '''''Angel & Faith''''', and two spin-off miniseries ''Willow: Wonderland'' and ''Spike: A Dark Place'''.''''' 

The core series consists of 25 issues and each miniseries consists of 5 issues. While [[Joss Whedon]], the creator of the original television series, shares writing duties with [[Andrew Chambliss]] on the main series, [[Christos Gage]] writes ''Angel & Faith''.

The beginning of ''Season Nine'' focuses on Buffy living in [[San Francisco]] in a world without magic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30568|title=Behind Buffy Season Eight: Finale (Scott Allie Interview)|work=Comic Book Resources|date=January 28, 2011|access-date=April 3, 2011}}</ref> ''Angel & Faith'', on the other hand, is set primarily in London and pursues several plot threads from ''Season Eight''. The series were followed in 2014 by the start of a ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten|Season Ten]]'' line of ''Buffy'' and ''Angel & Faith'' comics.

== Plot ==

===''Buffy''===
''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine'' continues the plot thread from the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight|previous series]], focusing on [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] and her core group of friends. After [[Twilight (Buffy comic)|the Twilight crisis]], in which she destroyed the 'Seed of Wonder' and consequently brought about [[Last Gleaming|the end of magic]], Buffy is now living in [[San Francisco]]<ref>{{cite book|title=BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON EIGHT VOLUME 8: LAST GLEAMING TPB|year=2011|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|isbn=978-1-59582-610-7|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781595821652/page/168 168]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781595821652/page/168|author1=Joss Whedon|author2=Jane Espenson|author3=Scott Allie}}</ref> and must continue her duties as [[Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|the Slayer]].<ref>{{cite book|title=BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 VOLUME 1: FREEFALL TPB|year=2012|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|isbn=978-1-59582-922-1|pages=136|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-165/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-9-Volume-1-Freefall-TPB|author1=Joss Whedon |author2=Andrew Chambliss }}</ref> However, there is a new [[status quo]] in Buffy's personal life as well as in her Slayer career. For example, in the process of becoming a vampire, demons are no longer able to fully possess the dead, creating mindless creatures which [[Xander Harris|Xander]] coins "zompires". Xander and Buffy's sister [[Dawn Summers|Dawn]] have settled into a quiet domestic life together, and Buffy's best friend [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]] no longer possesses magical abilities. [[Andrew Wells|Andrew]] and [[Riley Finn|Riley]] are still friends of Buffy's, but she sees them less frequently. Buffy lives with two seemingly normal roommates, Tumble and Anaheed, and the job of patrolling for vampires initially falls to Buffy and her ex-lover [[Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Spike]], a vampire with a soul.

Due to his feelings for Buffy, Spike departs San Francisco in his [[spacecraft|space ship]]. Willow also leaves, Buffy's broken scythe in tow, on a quest to restore magic. Buffy faces a few enemies, including many ravenous zompires, the rogue Slayer [[List of minor Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters#Simone Doffler|Simone Doffler]], and a young man named Severin&mdash;prophesied as "the Siphon"&mdash; who since the end of magic possesses the ability to drain demons and Slayers of their magic. Buffy works primarily with a few new allies, including Robert Dowling, an [[San Francisco Police Department|SFPD]] officer who heads up an anti-zompire task force, and Billy Lane, a gay teenager who moved to San Francisco to support Buffy's cause. Later it is revealed that Anaheed is another Slayer who has been tasked with looking out for Buffy, and she takes Billy under her wing. Buffy is also briefly allied with Eldre Koh, an [[Old Ones (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|ancient demon]] whose mystical prison was broken along with the end of magic, and for this swears a debt of loyalty to Buffy. Koh reveals however, that his vendetta against his ancient jailer trumps his loyalty to Buffy, and betrays her trust. Later, on a mission with Dowling and Billy, Buffy finds herself transported to [[Los Angeles]] where she is approached by another ancient demon, [[Illyria (Angel)|Illyria]] (a character from the television series ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]''), who recruits Buffy to a team dedicated to defeating Severin. Eldre Koh and Buffy's old enemy [[D'Hoffryn]] are also members of Illyria's council. Buffy, Illyria and Koh strategize to disarm and take out Severin. However, their plan fails and Severin is successful in draining Illyria of her abilities leaving her alive but powerless and stuck in the physical appearance of her human host body, [[Winifred Burkle]]. Having drained Illyria of her powers, Severin acquires her ability to freely travel through time, which he needs to resurrect his dead girlfriend.

Soon after, Buffy discovers that Dawn (who was created from a mystical key in ''Buffy'' season five) is dying as a result of the end of magic. Xander&mdash;who has been struggling with his anger since Giles' death in ''Season Eight''&mdash;blames Buffy for Dawn's predicament. Severin and Simone approach and ask him to steal Buffy's sole inheritance from Giles (the ''Vampyr'' book seen in [[Welcome to the Hellmouth|''Buffy'' episode one]]) so that they might use it to go back in time and avert the Twilight crisis which precipitated the end of magic. Willow returns from her journey with her powers and Buffy's scythe restored, but she can only buy time for Dawn, whose health is still failing. Xander appears to confess to Buffy of Severin's plan, leading the trio head to the Deeper Well in the English [[Cotswolds]] (a prison for ancient demons seen in ''Angel'') where they hope they can acquire sufficient magical reserves for Willow to restore Dawn. Spike returns to San Francisco to provide comfort to Dawn; he watches over her as she fades rapidly from existence. As Buffy's team enters the Well, at the [[antipodes|opposite end of the Earth]] so too do Simone and Severin, acting on information supplied by Xander. Buffy learns of Xander's deceit and is furious with him. Inside, Severin and Willow both charge with abundant magical energies, but it is too much for Severin to handle and he will soon explode with power. Willow's magic forms a new Seed, which will take a millennium to reach full power. However, with assistance from Illyria, she persuades Severin to transfer his power to the new Seed, thereby causing it to mature and restore magic to the world. Illyria chooses to stay with Severin to ensure the task is completed. Meanwhile, Simone awakens Maloker, the Old One responsible for siring the first vampire, and allows herself to be sired, endowing her with fantastic super strength while allowing her to retain her intelligence. As Xander attempts to help Koh and the Council subdue Maloker, Simone gets the upper hand against Buffy, but sensing her need to escape the Well, she leaves Buffy to be finished off by Maloker, who has killed all the Council save for D'Hoffryn and Koh. As her friends evacuate the Well, Buffy expresses regret for making someone like Simone into a Slayer, and dusts her with the scythe. Further below, Severin explodes with power, restoring magic to the world. The resulting explosion seemingly kills him, along with Maloker and Illyria. Buffy narrowly escapes the Well.

In the immediate aftermath of their battle, Willow returns the gang to San Francisco and uses Buffy's blood and her magic to restore Dawn. Xander expresses guilt about his betrayal, but Buffy forgives him as his actions ultimately led to the creation of a new Seed, which saved Dawn. Willow warns Buffy something feels different in the world. Willow and Buffy turn to the ''Vampyr'' book to research possible consequences of their actions and find its pages are now blank. Elsewhere, a newly sired vampire is shown to retain her intelligence, stand in sunlight and even shapeshift into a bat.

===''Angel & Faith''===
In ''Angel & Faith'', the title characters reside in the former London home of [[Rupert Giles]], Buffy's former mentor, which passed to the Slayer [[Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Faith]] in his will following his death in the [[Last Gleaming|''Season Eight'' finale]]. Faith seeks to rehabilitate [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel]] after his actions as Twilight in ''Season Eight'', while he is on the hunt for the scattered pieces of Giles' soul in order to resurrect him.<ref>{{cite book|title=ANGEL & FAITH VOLUME 1: LIVE THROUGH THIS TPB|year=2012|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|isbn=978-1-59582-887-3|pages=136|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-158/Angel-Faith-Volume-1-Live-Through-This-TPB|author=Christos Cage}}</ref> Former allies from his tenure as Twilight&mdash;including [[List of minor Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters#Whistler|Whistler]], and the half-demons Pearl and Nash&mdash;are out for revenge from Angel for aborting their original plans, as is a British contingent of Slayers led by the Slayer Nadira who cannot forgive Angel for the many atrocities he has caused both as Twilight and earlier in his career. Whistler plans to use the residual magic contained in scattered artifacts around the world to unleash a plague which will mutate humankind into a magical species, creating a new world order, at the cost of many human lives. Angel and Faith go on several missions and acquire numerous fragments of Giles' soul using the mystical Tooth of Ammuk, and Angel's personality becomes increasingly influenced by the growing presence of Giles' soul within him. Angel and Faith are joined and supported by Giles' great aunts, Lavinia and Sophronia Fairweather, two depowered witches who used their magic to remain young and beautiful, and by Alasdair Coames, a depowered "archmage" and a collector of magical artifacts who is an old friend of Giles's.

Willow visits Angel and Faith's apartment on her mission to restore magic, and as the Scythe contains a piece of Giles' soul, is able to enlist their help. Taking the gang to Los Angeles, they reconvene with Angel's friend [[Charles Gunn (Angel)|Gunn]] and his son [[Connor (Angel)|Connor]] (from the ''Angel'' series). Connor was raised in the hell dimension Quor'toth, and through him Willow is able to transport them there using residual magic in the Scythe. Once there, she regains her powers and begins an inter-dimensional journey, and Angel receives the penultimate piece of Giles's soul. Later, Angel and Faith recover a mystical item which is key to restoring Giles's corpse to full health so they can reanimate it. However, they discover he is not buried in his grave. They learn that Giles's body has been possessed by the demon Eyghon (from the ''Buffy'' episode "[[The Dark Age (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|The Dark Age]]"), to whom he sold his soul in his youth. Angel reveals that he has known of Eyghon's survival, as well as his partnership with Whistler, Pearl and Nash. Because vampires are immune to Eyghon's ability to possess the dead and unconscious, with which he plans to build an army of Slayers, Angel recruits Spike to assist him on a mission to kill the demon. The trio, supported by a band of Slayers, manages to slay Eyghon using an enchanted sword. Traumatized by this battle and by recent losses, the Slayers who worked alongside Nadira quit to lead normal lives. With Eyghon's death, Giles's complete soul is restored, and is later transferred from Angel's body to a mystical vessel. Spike quickly departs after learning Buffy called Faith requesting help for Dawn, but Angel and Faith have no idea who Dawn is supposed to be. The remaining group then go ahead with the plan to bring Giles back to life, using Coames's collection of artifacts to provide the required magic for the spell. The ritual is interfered with when Whistler, Pearl and Nash arrive to steal Coames' magical artifacts. The trio make off with everything after a brief and brutal skirmish.

The group is astounded when Giles is successfully returned to life, but as a 12-year-old boy with his memories intact, due to his aunts focusing on their memories of him as a child. Giles thanks them for saving him from Eyghon but is furious at the age of his body and that they have been wasting time trying to bring him back and not saving the world from Whistler's plan. The group form a battle plan including a way to shield themselves from the plague, and accept that they all might die. The group, trailed by Nadira, confront Whistler, Pearl and Nash on a rooftop in [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]] as they prepare to unleash their magical plague by releasing an orb of pure magic into the upper atmosphere. Angel and Faith are easily outgunned, and Nadira is gravely wounded by Nash. Giles is able to use ambient magic to attack Nash with a fireball, causing him drop the magical orb, albeit from a sufficient height to mutate local residents into all manner of magical creatures. Though burnt within an inch of her life, Nadira is able to help Faith kill Nash. Upon Nash's death, his power is absorbed by Pearl, who escapes the scene in tears at the loss of her brother. Angel takes on Whistler head-to-head; he damages the orb, forcing Whistler to absorb some of its magic, which clears his unbalanced mind. Whistler realizes the error of his ways, destroys the orb himself, and dies. In the season's [[dramatic structure|dénouement]], Pearl's hand is shown emerging ominously from a river. Even though it is medically impossible, Nadira is still alive, but is somehow mutating. Coames worries that with Whistler's death the universe will no longer have someone working towards balance; Angel says that people will have to do it for themselves. Lavinia and Sophronia take credit in front of the media for stopping the crisis. Faith and Giles decide to return to America, Faith thinking she may work with [[Kennedy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Kennedy]]'s Slayer bodyguard corporation and Giles aiming to reunite with Buffy. Angel parts on good terms with them, deciding to stay behind in London's newly christened "Magic Town" suburb where he expects many conflicts are yet to arise. He dedicates himself once again to helping the helpless.

===Miniseries===
''Willow: Wonderland'' follows on from Willow's crossover appearance in ''Angel & Faith''. On her travels, Willow befriends a cursed warlock known as Marrak. In a magical dimension resembling [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland|"Wonderland"]], Willow is reunited with her former tutor and lover [[List of minor Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters#S|Aluwyn, the Saga Vasuki]], whom she could not commune with after the end of magic. Aluwyn and her "supercoven" of witches restore Buffy's broken magical Scythe but inform Willow that opening a functional portal to her home world will be impossible because it does not have magic of its own. At first Willow enjoys the freedom of limitless power in a magical community, but later realizes Aluwyn has secluded her to the neglect of her friends, and the pair separate. The experience leaves Willow with a newfound understanding of her abilities and her own nature, including the oneness of her "Dark Willow" persona and her [[self (philosophy)|normal self]]. While traveling with Marrak again, his obsession with dark magic becomes apparent, and she realizes that he is in fact [[List of minor Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters#Rack|Rack]], the [[drug dealer|dealer]] responsible for her earlier black magic addiction, whom she believed she had killed. In the story's final part, Willow and Rack battle until he is defeated, and she in turn is guided by a sentient universe back to Earth&mdash;this time, with her own magic restored and the message that it is for all the world to share. She walks the streets of San Francisco at peace.

''Spike: A Dark Place'' continues from Spike's departure in ''Buffy'', and precedes his appearance in ''Angel & Faith''. Demons seize control of Spike's ship seeking to return to the ruins of [[Sunnydale|Sunnydale, California]], over the mystical Hellmouth where Buffy shattered the Seed of Wonder, bringing about the end of magic. They hope to acquire the shattered fragments of the seed, for they contain residual magic. At the site of Buffy's battle, Spike encounters a [[succubus]] named Morgan who helps him kill his captors and explains that she, like many demons, is after these fragments as well; she plans to use them to open the dormant Hellmouth on [[Easter Island]]. Morgan's powers place Spike under her thrall and using his ship, he transports her to the site of the Hellmouth before coming to his senses. Once there, Morgan's spell to open the Hellmouth fails, and instead brings the [[moai]] to life. The moai later fuse into a stone giant which attacks Spike and Morgan. During the fray, the giant strikes and destroys Spike's space ship, leading all but one of Spike's insectoid crew to evacuate. A sole bug goes down with the ship, which takes the giant out with him. Morgan departs after Spike soundly rejects the chance of being in a relationship with her. The remaining bugs decide to set up home in the caves of Easter Island, and part ways with Spike. Contemplating a return to San Francisco, Spike receives a phone call from Angel requesting his help.

''Love vs Life'' is a three-part story written by Jane Espenson, originally serialized in ''[[Dark Horse Presents]]'', following Billy's and Anaheed's departure from San Francisco during ''Buffy''{{'}}s last arc. Billy is summoned back to his hometown of Santa Rosita by his boyfriend Devon after it is overrun by zompires who do not need an invitation to enter people's homes. Anaheed travels along with him and says they can only evacuate the town; she advises him that a Slayer ought to know when to cut their losses. Billy remembers Buffy telling him a Slayer must put the world first, above even those they love. He breaks up with Devon despite Devon saying Buffy is wrong. When zompires attack Devon and his father in their basement, Anaheed holds Billy back, believing they cannot reach them in time. However, Billy has a vision of the First Slayer battling vampires with fire. Billy uses fire to scare off the zompires and save Devon and his father. Billy and Devon decide to stay together. When Devon expresses disbelief Billy could have made a connection to Slayer mythology, Anaheed says maybe something out there chose to hook into Billy.

==Production==

===Conception===
Whedon and Dark Horse began preparing for ''Season Nine'' before the conclusion of ''Season Eight'', and production for the series started shortly after ''Season Eight'' ended.<ref name=cbrrobot6 /> Whedon decided to use the finale to ''Season Eight'' to establish a new paradigm for ''Season Nine''. While Whedon had chosen to fully exploit the possibilities of a comic book medium to explore more fantastical storylines, he later reflected that ''Buffy'' was less about the scope of its storytelling and more about the emotional experience of its characters. The "end of magic" at the conclusion of ''Season Eight'' would therefore do many things: it would make Buffy an [[underdog (competition)|underdog]] once again, restore her setting to the "real world", and make its stories more personal. He also chose to kill off [[Rupert Giles]] because that character's television functions&mdash;providing [[exposition (literary technique)|narrative exposition]], and acting as a paternal figure&mdash;did not translate well to the comic book format. Both the end of magic and Giles' death provide significant plot generators for the stories which followed.<ref name="Whedon EW">{{cite magazine|url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/01/19/joss-whedon-buffy-season-8-comic-exclusive/|title=Joss Whedon talks about the end of the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Season 8 comic, and the future of Season 9 -- EXCLUSIVE|last=Vary|first=Adam B.|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=January 19, 2011|access-date=May 8, 2011}}</ref>

In 2010, Dark Horse confirmed that it had reacquired the license to [[List of Angel comics|''Angel'' comics]], which would move from [[IDW Publishing]]. Titles revolving around [[Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Angel]] and his supporting cast from the [[Angel (1999 TV series)|''Angel'' television series]] would then appear as part of the Season Nine banner of ''Buffy'' comics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://buffyfest.blogspot.com/2010/08/exclusive-interview-scott-allie.html|title=Exclusive Scott Allie interview|work=Buffyfest|date=August 20, 2010|access-date=August 20, 2010}}</ref> Editor Scott Allie confirmed his intent for characters from the ''Buffy'' and ''Angel'' television series to interact more freely with one another, giving the series "an early [[Marvel Universe]] feel."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whedonesque.com/comments/24652|title=(SPOILER) Big Buffyfest Interview with Scott Allie about Angel's return to Dark Horse.|access-date=January 1, 2013|date=August 20, 2010|publisher=Whedonesque.com}}</ref> In 2011, Dark Horse had confirmed plans for its "Season Nine" brand to consist of two main titles, both of 25 issues over the course of two years.<ref name="ECCC">{{cite web|url=https://buffyfest.blogspot.com/2011/03/buffy-season-9-news-from-eccc.html|title=Buffy Season 9 News from ECCC|work=Buffyfest|date=March 8, 2011|access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref> Subsequent announcements followed that Dark Horse's ''Angel'' series would also focus on [[Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|Faith Lehane]] and be titled ''Angel & Faith'', set in London, and exclusively written by [[Christos Gage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31615|title=WC11 EXCLUSIVE: Gage is Touched by "Angel & Faith"|work=Comic Book Resources|date=April 1, 2011|access-date=April 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430234212/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31615|archive-date=April 30, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Whedon himself would write the first issue of ''Buffy'' before passing the responsibility over to [[Andrew Chambliss]], with whom he would also co-write the second issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://buffyfest.blogspot.com/2011/04/spoilers-exclusive-interview-with-buffy.html|title=(Spoilers) Exclusive Interview with Buffy S.9 Writer Andrew Chambliss|work=Buffyfest|date=April 1, 2011|access-date=April 2, 2011}}</ref>

Due to Whedon's duties directing ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'', a big-budget superhero film due for release in 2012, he organised a writer's summit at his house with Chambliss, Gage, [[Jane Espenson]], [[Drew Greenberg]], his brother [[Zack Whedon]] and others. This was to allow the series' writers to "lock down" the storylines for ''Buffy Season Nine'' and ''Angel & Faith'' before Whedon became less available. Whedon outlined that because ''Season Eight'' had drawn criticism for becoming too fantastical and "cosmic", ''Season Nine'' was to be more character-driven, and as much like the television series as possible. Due to its differing premise, ''Angel & Faith'' was not modeled directly on the ''Angel'' series, though it nevertheless revolved around its characters following episodic "cases". The series benefited greatly from plans for other unproduced ''Buffy'' television spin-offs, particularly ''[[Undeveloped Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoffs|Ripper]]'', a series intended as a vehicle for [[Anthony Head|Anthony Stewart Head]] portraying Rupert Giles, with flashbacks to his wayward youth. Whedon offered Gage the use of two characters created for that series, Giles' aunts Sophronia and Lavinia Fairweather&mdash;two ageless witches who in the television series would have been portrayed by Anthony Head's daughters, actresses [[Emily Head|Emily]] and [[Daisy Head]]. Many of the revelations about Giles' past were drawn from ''Ripper'' scripts and production notes.<ref name="Chambliss and Gage prepare">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40221 |title=Chambliss & Gage prepare the end of "Buffy Season 9" |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=August 2, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

===History===
The first story published under the ''Season Nine'' banner was a mini-story by Jane Espenson featuring Spike, titled ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9: Magical Mystery Tour Featuring the Beetles'', written by [[Jane Espenson]]. It was released as part of Dark Horse's Digital Retailer Exclusive program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/07/01/dark-horse-digital-retailer-exclusive-program-kicks-off-with-bprd-casualties/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703071740/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/07/01/dark-horse-digital-retailer-exclusive-program-kicks-off-with-bprd-casualties/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 3, 2011|title=Dark Horse Digital Retailer Exclusive Program Kicks Off With 'B.P.R.D. Casualties'|work=MTV Geek|date=July 1, 2011|access-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref> Free Comic Book Day in April 2012, Chambliss' released the mini-story "In Space No One Can Hear You Slay," depicting Buffy and Spike on a "spacecation" following her pregnancy scare in "Apart (of Me)". In the story, a member of Spike's insectoid alien crew is sired and becomes a zompire, creating a creature which closely resembles the [[alien (creature in Alien franchise)|titular aliens]] of the [[Alien (film series)|''Alien'' movie franchise]]. Some news outlets reported the story as an ''Alien'' crossover story.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/05/04/yes-looks-like-buffy-vs-aliens-folks/ |publisher=Bleeding Cool News |last=Johnston |first=Rich |author-link=Rich Johnston |date=May 4, 2013 |title=Yes, It Looks Like It Is Buffy Vs Aliens, Folks |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/comics/news/a379209/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-gets-free-comic-book-day-teaser.html |title='Buffy the Vampire Slayer' gets Free Comic Book Day teaser |publisher=[[Digital Spy]] |date=April 30, 2012 |last=Langshaw |first=Mark |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> Over three issues, ''[[Dark Horse Presents]]'' presented "Love vs. Life," a three-part story by Jane Espenson and Karl Moline featuring new characters Billy  Lane and Anaheed.

In April 2012, Dark Horse also announced ''Spike'' and ''Willow'' miniseries spinning off from the ''Buffy'' title.<ref>{{cite web |title=C2E2: Major Announcements Hit Diamond Summit |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=38129 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=April 13, 2012 |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> A miniseries focusing on Drusilla after the events of ''Angel & Faith'' #9 was also planned, but was later delayed indefinitely due to scheduling issues.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dark Horse delays "Buffy" spinoff "Drusilla" indefinitely|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=37981|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=April 4, 2012|access-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref>

==Publication==

===Core series===

====''Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine''====

=====Single issues=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Title !! Issue # !! Release date
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Freefall, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 1 || style="text-align:center;"| September 14, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' [[Joss Whedon]] | '''Penciller:''' [[Georges Jeanty]]
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Freefall, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 2 || style="text-align:center;"| October 12, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Joss Whedon and [[Andrew Chambliss]] || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Freefall, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 3 || style="text-align:center;"| November 9, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Freefall, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 4 || style="text-align:center;"| December 14, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Slayer, Interrupted" || style="text-align:center;"| 5 || style="text-align:center;"| January 11, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' [[Karl Moline]]
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "On Your Own, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 6 || style="text-align:center;"| February 8, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "On Your Own, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 7 || style="text-align:center;"| March 14, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Apart (of Me), Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 8 || style="text-align:center;"| April 11, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Cliff Richards
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Apart (of Me), Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 9 || style="text-align:center;"| May 9, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss and Scott Allie || '''Penciller:''' Cliff Richards
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Apart (of Me), Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 10 || style="text-align:center;"| June 13, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss and Scott Allie || '''Penciller:''' Cliff Richards
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Guarded, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 11 || style="text-align:center;"| July 11, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Guarded, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 12 || style="text-align:center;"| August 8, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"|  
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Guarded, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 13 || style="text-align:center;"| September 12, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#ff7d83;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Billy the Vampire Slayer, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 14 || style="text-align:center;"| October 10, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Jane Espenson || '''Penciller:''' Karl Moline
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#ff7d83;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Billy the Vampire Slayer, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 15 || style="text-align:center;"| November 14, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Drew Z. Greenberg || '''Penciller:''' Karl Moline, Ben Dewey
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#f19e5c;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Welcome to the Team, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 16 || style="text-align:center;"| December 12, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#f19e5c;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Welcome to the Team, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 17 || style="text-align:center;"| January 9, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#f19e5c;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Welcome to the Team, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 18 || style="text-align:center;"| February 13, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"|  
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#f19e5c;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Welcome to the Team, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 19 || style="text-align:center;"| March 13, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#f19e5c;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "The Watcher" || style="text-align:center;"| 20 || style="text-align:center;"| April 10, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Karl Moline
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "The Core, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 21 || style="text-align:center;"| May 8, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "The Core, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 22 || style="text-align:center;"| June 12, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "The Core, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 23 || style="text-align:center;"| July 10, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| .
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "The Core, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 24 || style="text-align:center;"| August 14, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "The Core, Part V" || style="text-align:center;"| 25 || style="text-align:center;"| September 11, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Andrew Chambliss || '''Penciller:''' Georges Jeanty
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|}

=====Trade Paperbacks=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%"
|-
! Volume !! Title !! Issues collected !! Release date !! ISBN
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| 1 || "Freefall" || 1–5 || July 4, 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-165/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-9-Volume-1-Freefall-TPB|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Volume 1: Freefall TPB|publisher=Amazon.com|access-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-59582-922-1}}
|-
| 2 || "On Your Own" || 6–10 +  "In Space No One Can Hear You Slay!"|| December 18, 2012<ref>{{cite book|title=Buffy Season 9 Volume 2 on Amazon.com|isbn=978-1595829900|last1=Chambliss|first1=Andrew|last2=Allie|first2=Scott|year=2012 |publisher=Dark Horse }}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-59582-990-0}}
|-
| 3 || "Guarded" || 11–15 || May 14, 2013<ref>{{cite book|title=Buffy Season 9 Volume 3 on Amazon.ca|id={{ASIN|1616550996|country=ca}}}}</ref> ||{{ISBN|978-1-61655-099-8}}
|-
| 4 || "Welcome to the Team" || 16–20 || October 9, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/21-599/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-9-Volume-4-Welcome-to-the-Team-TPB|title=Buffy Season 9 Volume 4: Welcome to the Team TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=September 23, 2013}}</ref> ||{{ISBN|978-1-61655-166-7}}
|-
| 5 || "The Core" || 21–25 + "Love vs. Life" || March 5, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/21-600/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-9-Volume-5-TPB|title=Buffy Season 9 Volume 5: The Core TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref> ||{{ISBN|978-1-61655-254-1}}
|}

=====Library Editions=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%"
|-
! Volume !! Trade Paperbacks collected !! Release date !! ISBN
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
|align=center| 1 || ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 1: Freefall''<br />''Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 2: On Your Own'' || January 14, 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/26-492/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-9-Library-Edition-Volume-1-HC|title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Library Edition Volume 1 HC :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1616557157}}
|-
|align=center| 2 || ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 3: Guarded''<br />''Willow: Wonderland'' || July 7, 2015<ref>{{cite book |isbn=978-1616557164|title=Buffy: Season Nine Library Edition Volume 2 |last1=Whedon |first1=Joss |last2=Chambliss |first2=Andrew |last3=Jeanty |first3=Georges |year=2015 |publisher=Dark Horse Books }}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1616557164}}
|-
|align=center| 3 || ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 4: Welcome to the Team''<br />''Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 9, Volume 5: The Core'' || November 24, 2015<ref>{{Cite book|isbn = 978-1616557171|title = Buffy Season Nine Library Edition Vol3|last1 = Whedon|first1 = Joss|year = 2015 | publisher=Dark Horse Comics }}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1616557171}}
|}

====''Angel & Faith''====

=====Single issues=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Title !! Issue # !! Release date
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Live Through This, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 1 || style="text-align:center;"| August 31, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' [[Christos Gage]] || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Live Through This, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 2 || style="text-align:center;"| September 28, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Live Through This, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 3 || style="text-align:center;"| October 26, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Live Through This, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 4 || style="text-align:center;"| November 30, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "In Perfect Harmony" || style="text-align:center;"| 5 || style="text-align:center;"| December 28, 2011
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Phil Noto
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Daddy Issues, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 6 || style="text-align:center;"| January 25, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Daddy Issues, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 7 || style="text-align:center;"| February 29, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Daddy Issues, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 8 || style="text-align:center;"| March 28, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Daddy Issues, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 9 || style="text-align:center;"| April 25, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#5d8aa8;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Women of a Certain Age" || style="text-align:center;"| 10 || style="text-align:center;"| May 30, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Chris Samnee
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Family Reunion, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 11 || style="text-align:center;"| June 27, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Family Reunion, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 12 || style="text-align:center;"| July 25, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Family Reunion, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 13 || style="text-align:center;"| August 29, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Family Reunion, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 14 || style="text-align:center;"| September 26, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cadfb4;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "The Hero of His Own Story" || style="text-align:center;"| 15 || style="text-align:center;"| October 31, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Lee Garbett
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Death and Consequences, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 16 || style="text-align:center;"| November 28, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Death and Consequences, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 17 || style="text-align:center;"| December 19, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Death and Consequences, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 18 || style="text-align:center;"| January 30, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Death and Consequences, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 19 || style="text-align:center;"| February 27, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#9b5e81;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Spike and Faith" || style="text-align:center;"| 20 || style="text-align:center;"| March 27, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#ff7d83;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part I" || style="text-align:center;"| 21 || style="text-align:center;"| April 24, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#ff7d83;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part II" || style="text-align:center;"| 22 || style="text-align:center;"| May 29, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#ff7d83;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part III" || style="text-align:center;"| 23 || style="text-align:center;"| June 26, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#ff7d83;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part IV" || style="text-align:center;"| 24 || style="text-align:center;"| July 31, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#ff7d83;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "What You Want, Not What You Need, Part V" || style="text-align:center;"| 25 || style="text-align:center;"| August 28, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Rebekah Isaacs
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|}

=====Trade Paperbacks=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%"
|-
! Volume !! Title !! Issues collected !! Release date !! ISBN
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| 1 || "Live Through This" || 1–5 + ''Harmony'' one-shot || June 20, 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-158/Angel-Faith-Volume-1-Live-Through-This-TPB|title=Angel & Faith Volume 1: Live Through This TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=January 29, 2012}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-59582-887-3}}
|-
| 2 || "Daddy Issues" || 6–10 || December 4, 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-866/Angel-Faith-Volume-2-Daddy-Issues-TPB|title=Angel & Faith Volume 2: Daddy Issues TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=June 30, 2012}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-59582-960-3}}
|-
| 3 || "Family Reunion" || 11–15 || April 30, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-866/Angel-Faith-Volume-3-Daddy-Issues-TPB|title=Angel & Faith Volume 3: Family Reuinion TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=June 30, 2012}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-61655-079-0}}
|-
| 4 || "Death and Consequences" || 16–20 || September 18, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/21-622/Angel-Faith-Volume-4-Death-and-Consequences-TPB|title=Angel & Faith Volume 4: Death and Consequences TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=August 23, 2013}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-61655-165-0}}
|-
| 5 || "What You Want, Not What You Need" || 21–25 || February 19, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/21-623/Angel-Faith-Volume-5-What-You-Want-Not-What-You-Need-TPB|title=Angel & Faith Volume 5: What You Want, Not What You Need TPB|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|access-date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-61655-253-4}}
|}

=====Library Editions=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%"
|-
! Volume !! Trade Paperbacks collected !! Release date !! ISBN
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#e32636;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
|align=center| 1 || ''Angel & Faith – Volume 1: Live Through This''<br />''Angel & Faith – Volume 2: Daddy Issues'' || March 11, 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/26-495/Angel-Faith-Season-9-Library-Edition-Volume-1-HC|title = Angel & Faith: Season 9 Library Edition Volume 1 HC :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1616557126}}
|-
|align=center| 2 || ''Angel & Faith – Volume 3: Family Reunion''<br />''Spike: A Dark Place'' || August 25, 2015<ref>{{Cite book|isbn = 978-1616557133|title = Angel and Faith|last1 = Gage|first1 = Christos|year = 2015 | publisher=Dark Horse Comics }}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1616557133}}
|-
|align=center| 3 || ''Angel & Faith – Volume 4: Death and Consequences''<br />''Angel & Faith – Volume 5: What You Want, Not What You Need'' || January 26, 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ProductDetailPage.aspx?sequence=87&group=catalog&mailingID=0&mailingGroupID=0&catalogID=2156670&org=&sku=1616557141|title=Edelweiss+}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1616557140}}
|}

===Miniseries===

====''Spike: A Dark Place''====

=====Single issues=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Title !! Issue # !! Release date
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#660033;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Spike: A Dark Place #1" || style="text-align:center;"| 1 || style="text-align:center;"| August 22, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' [[Victor Gischler]] || '''Penciller:''' Paul Lee
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#660033;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Spike: A Dark Place #2" || style="text-align:center;"| 2 || style="text-align:center;"| September 19, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Victor Gischler || '''Penciller:''' Paul Lee
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#660033;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Spike: A Dark Place #3" || style="text-align:center;"| 3 || style="text-align:center;"| October 24, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Victor Gischler || '''Penciller:''' Paul Lee
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#660033;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Spike: A Dark Place #4" || style="text-align:center;"| 4 || style="text-align:center;"| November 21, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Victor Gischler || '''Penciller:''' Paul Lee
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#660033;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Spike: A Dark Place #5" || style="text-align:center;"| 5 || style="text-align:center;"| January 23, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Victor Gischler || '''Penciller:''' Paul Lee
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|}

=====Trade Paperbacks=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%"
|-
! Volume !! Title !! Issues collected !! Release date !! ISBN
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#660033;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| 1 || "Spike: A Dark Place" || 1–5 || June 5, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-173/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Spike-A-Dark-Place-TPB |title=TPB|publisher=Amazon.com|access-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-61655-109-4}}
|}

====''Willow: Wonderland''====

=====Single issues=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
|-
! Title !! Issue # !! Release date
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cc9900;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Willow: Wonderland #1" || style="text-align:center;"| 1 || style="text-align:center;"| November 7, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' [[Jeff Parker (comics)|Jeff Parker]] || '''Penciller:''' Brian Ching
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cc9900;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Willow: Wonderland #2" || style="text-align:center;"| 2 || style="text-align:center;"| December 5, 2012
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Jeff Parker || '''Penciller:''' Brian Ching
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cc9900;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Willow: Wonderland #3" || style="text-align:center;"| 3 || style="text-align:center;"| January 2, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Jeff Parker and Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Brian Ching
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cc9900;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Willow: Wonderland #4" || style="text-align:center;"| 4 || style="text-align:center;"| February 6, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Jeff Parker and Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Brian Ching
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cc9900;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| "Willow: Wonderland #5" || style="text-align:center;"| 5 || style="text-align:center;"| March 6, 2013
|-
| colspan="2"|'''Writer:''' Jeff Parker and Christos Gage || '''Penciller:''' Brian Ching
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|-
|colspan="6"| 
|}

=====Trade Paperbacks=====
{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%"
|-
! Volume !! Title !! Issues collected !! Release date !! ISBN
|-
| colspan="6" style="background:#cc9900;"| <!-- Putting in a nice space between episodes -->
|-
| 1 || "Willow: Wonderland" || 1–5 || August 21, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-180/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Willow-Wonderland-TPB|title=TPB|publisher=Amazon.com|access-date=October 11, 2012}}</ref> || {{ISBN|978-1-61655-145-2}}
|}

==Reception==

===''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''===
Reaction to the new series has generally been positive. [[Comic Book Resources]]' [[Kelly Thompson]] summed, "Joss Whedon has managed the impossible yet again, somehow reinventing and reinvigorating these beloved characters and putting them on entirely new paths and adventures."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=3910|title=BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON 9 #1|last=Thompson|first=Kelly|author-link=Kelly Thompson|work=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=September 14, 2011|access-date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Adam Vary gave the first issue of ''Season Nine'' a positive review, stating "Watching Buffy act like a normal twentysomething screw-up is adorable, and a refreshing reminder that, even without the weight of the world on her shoulders, our heroine's life can still be a bit of a mess." Vary commented that this sort of storytelling alone would make an interesting contrast to ''Season Eight'', but noted that Whedon had set up several supernatural plot threads as well, adding "I hope that as ''Season 9'' unfolds, Whedon et. al. allow the relative simplicity of Buffy's life to reflect more in the storytelling itself. As any Buffy fan knows, the woman is plenty captivating just on her own."<ref name=EW>{{cite magazine|url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/09/14/buffy-season-9-no-1-review/|title='Buffy Season 9' #1 review: A world without magic, but not without problems. Or parties!|last=Vary|first=Adam B.|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 14, 2011|access-date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> Grey Scherl gave the episode a 9.5/10, writing for Inside Pulse. He praised Jeanty's artwork, although added the caveat "That isn't to say it's perfect, and there are times when he feels a bit rusty at it; some characters look off at times, especially Dawn." His main criticism was directed to the appearance of [[Riley Finn|Riley]], who was his least favourite character in the television series. "It's a really fun issue, but it's not something that the uninitiated is going to understand. Whedon brings these characters back to the core of what works, and makes waiting a month for the next issue far more irritating than week between episodes ever was."<ref name=InsidePulse>{{cite web|url=http://insidepulse.com/2011/09/18/review-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-nine-1-by-joss-whedon-and-georges-jeanty/|last=Scherl|first=Grey|title=Review: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Nine #1 By Joss Whedon|work=Inside Pulse|access-date=September 19, 2011|date=September 18, 2011}}</ref>

WhatCulture's Dean Threadgold gave the first issue of ''Season Nine'' 3.5/5. Threadgold praised Whedon's trademark humor, and for delivering "a script that is both witty and fun yet, like the best episodes, full of emotional subtext", despite ''Season Eight''{{'}}s set-up. Threadgold commented that the series' first issue was "very effective, neatly setting up the new status quo and at the same time sowing the seeds for the rest of the series." However, reservations were directed towards the art: "Georges Jeanty, who is usually top notch with his pencils, displays a few too many inconsistencies with the various characters". Threadgold was also skeptical whether Whedon's decision to share writing duties with comics-novice Andrew Chambliss would bode well for the series.<ref name=WhatCulture>{{cite web|url=http://whatculture.com/comics/comics-review-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-nine-1.php |title=Comics Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Season Nine) # 1 |last=Threadgold |first=Dean |work=WhatCulture |access-date=September 19, 2011 |date=September 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004133246/http://whatculture.com/comics/comics-review-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-season-nine-1.php |archive-date=October 4, 2011 }}</ref>

Some critics felt the series had improved on ''Season Eight''{{'}}s relative failures. Scherl felt ''Season Eight'' "was too big, too grand in scale and scope, and while the characters were still the ones we know and love, there was something lost in not letting them be in situations that suit who they are."<ref name=InsidePulse/> Threadgold wrote "A big criticism of ''Season 8'' was that it failed to be about anything deeper, yet already Season 9 seems eager to rectify that problem,"<ref name=WhatCulture/> and Vary was eager for the series not to lose sight of its intimate start, commenting "If the 24-page issue was just about this party... it would have been a fascinating, human-scaled change of pace from the fast-paced phantasmagoria of ''Season 8''."<ref name=EW/>

==== Abortion storyline ====
[[File:Buffy decides to get an abortion, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 Issue 6 (2012).jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 9, Issue #6: On Your Own, Part I''. Buffy talks to Spike about her decision.]] Media attention was raised by Buffy's apparent pregnancy and decision to get an abortion during issues #5-7. Much critical attention to Buffy's decision was mainly positive, with Comic Book Resources' Kelly Thompson saying "The people in charge of this book -- creators, editors and behind-the-scenes puppet masters (that's you, Joss Whedon) -- deserve huge credit for tackling the sensitive and controversial subject of abortion with unflinching honesty and realism."<ref>{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Kelly|author-link=Kelly Thompson|title=BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #6|date=February 8, 2012|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=4433|access-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref> Joss Whedon himself commented on the reasons and intention of the storyline in an interview with EntertainmentWeekly.com: "It's a very difficult decision for her, but she made a decision that so many people make and it's such a hot button issue with [[Planned Parenthood]] under constant threat and attack right now. A woman's right to choose is under attack as much as it's ever been, and that's a terrible and dangerous thing for this country. I don't usually get soap box-y with this, but the thing about Buffy is all she's going through is what women go through, and what nobody making a speech, holding up a placard, or making a movie is willing to say."<ref>{{cite web|website=EntertainmentWeekly.com|title='Buffy Season 9': Joss Whedon on why Buffy is getting [SPOILER] -- EXCLUSIVE|url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/02/08/buffy-season-9-joss-whedon/|access-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref> Subsequent reveal that Buffy had been replaced by a robot and not in fact pregnant was met with mixed reactions, with debate focusing on what this meant for Buffy's decision.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Abortion Controversy|date=March 23, 2012|url=http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2012/03/23/the-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-abortion-controversy/|access-date=October 14, 2012}}</ref>

In a review of the top 100 comics of 2012, Comic Book Resources' Kelly Thompson cited the abortion storyline as her rationale for including ''Season Nine'' on the list, at number 73, saying: "While some readers were disappointed with the execution of the story and others thought the resolution was weak, for me, just the creative team's confidence and commitment to letting this issue even exist is a testament to getting the comic, and the character, exactly right.... Though the storyline ultimately made her controversial resolution moot, it doesn't take away from the decision to make this book in the first place, and to make it as bold and honest as possible."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=42859#storyContinued|title=CBR'S TOP 100 COMICS OF 2012, #74 - 50|publisher=Comic Book Resources|access-date=January 11, 2013|date=December 27, 2012}}</ref>

=== ''Angel & Faith'' ===
IGN website gave the first issue of ''Angel & Faith'' an (8 out of 10) score,<ref name=IGN.com>{{cite web|title=IGN.com|date=November 2021|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/09/01/angel-faith-1-review}}</ref> while ComicBookResources described the series as being "a strong book since it debuted"<ref name="comic book resources review of issue #7">{{cite web|title=comicbookresources.com|date = March 5, 2012|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=4508}}</ref>

[[Rebekah Isaacs]], the artist of the series, said in an interview, "[The fans have] still been really supportive, even when the criticism is negative. It's done in a loving way, like they want to see these characters presented well and they want us to do well in telling these stories."<ref>{{cite web|last=Moccio |first=Michael |title=Interview with Dark Horse's Angel and Faith Artist Rebekah Isaacs |date=October 29, 2013 |url=https://emertainmentmonthly.org/2013/10/29/interview-with-dark-horses-angel-and-faith-artist-rebekah-isaacs/ |publisher=Emertainment Monthly |access-date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031172444/http://emertainmentmonthly.com/2013/10/29/interview-with-dark-horses-angel-and-faith-artist-rebekah-isaacs/ |archive-date=October 31, 2013 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.darkhorse.com/Zones/Buffy ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615173746/http://www.darkhorse.com/Zones/Buffy |date=June 15, 2017 }} at [[Dark Horse Comics]]

{{Buffy the Vampire Slayer}}
{{Joss Whedon}}

[[Category:Buffyverse comic book crossovers|Season 09]]
[[Category:Comics based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer|Season 09]]
[[Category:Horror comics]]
[[Category:Angel (1999 TV series) comics|Season 09]]
[[Category:Sequel comics]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related comics]]
[[Category:2011 in comics]]
[[Category:2013 in comics]]
[[Category:Comics by Christos Gage]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine|access_date=2026-02-27}}